Schism Read Online Free Page B

once encircled the monument, flying proudly, was now covered in shredded pieces of fabric and flagpoles bent askew, some nearly horizontal. Graffiti covered the bottom few yards of the monument’s surface; mostly words and phrases that she could hardly decipher. Though the rest of the monument was devoid of graffiti, being too high for anyone to reach, the marble was dull and dingy.
    “Who would do this?” Andy’s face was contorted into an expression of disgust.
    Morgan and Charlie moved behind her. Though not as affected by the sight, they were nonetheless disheartened by what they saw. The damage represented a lack of civility and respect. After traveling a thousand miles by land and sea to flee violence and chaos, they seemed to have stepped right back into it.
    Morgan placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go.”
    But Andy didn’t move. She could only stare back at the monument. “I thought if anywhere could…” she began hoarsely but didn’t finish.
    A moment later, her thoughts were interrupted by the harsh crack of gunshots in the distance. All three of them frantically looked around, but Charlie was the first to see it. “There!”
    Midway along the National Mall toward the Capitol Building, a small cluster of people scurried about shooting off guns, either at one another or others hiding out of sight. Andy remained rooted to the ground and watched in disbelief. Only when the far-off figures began to grow larger did she make a move and shout, “Get back in the truck…now!”
    They raced back to the vehicle. Andy started the engine and steered north onto Fifteenth Street and across Constitution Avenue. In the back seat, Morgan glanced anxiously through the window to her right. The figures appeared to be getting closer.
    “I think they’re following us. Move faster!” she urged.
    “I’m trying!” Andy yelled as she weaved through more cars blocking the road and cursed herself for picking the wrong direction. But no direction was clear.
    “How many are there?” Charlie asked fearfully.
    “I don’t know…eight?” Morgan answered.
    Another series of gunshots rang out. When a bullet struck the rear windshield of a car next to them, Andy drove over the curb in a desperate attempt to move faster. The maneuver caused the truck’s front left tire to blow. Losing control, Andy ran into the side of an SUV. She tried backing up, but it was futile. They weren’t going anywhere.
    “No!” Andy shouted and punched the steering wheel. Thinking quickly, she called back to Morgan, “Hand me the rifle and bullets.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “What does it look like?”
    Morgan did as instructed. Meanwhile, Charlie grabbed the pistol resting beside the parking brake as Andy loaded the magazine of the rifle. Her fingers were trembling.
    “God, I hope this thing works!” She looked back at Morgan. “Get down on the seat.”
    Morgan flattened herself in the backseat as Andy and Charlie crouched down.
    “If they shoot again, fire back,” she whispered to Charlie. They held their breath as the figures approached. Andy counted six of them. Two raised their own guns simultaneously and let off another round of shots. Several hit the back of the truck and the rear windshield. Morgan screamed and covered her ears.
    Acting solely on instinct, Andy kicked open her door and sprayed a long round of bullets toward the pursuers. She tried to aim but everything became a blur. Meanwhile, fear paralyzed Charlie, and he remained tucked into his seat.
    It wouldn’t have mattered had he fired back; most of Andy’s bullets struck the small crowd, some fatally. The few remaining sprinted away from the scene. It all had happened so quickly. She turned away from the carnage and fell back into her seat. After regaining her senses, she reached into the backseat and touched Morgan’s arm.
    “You okay?”
    Shaken, Morgan opened her eyes and released her fingers pressed tightly into her